Guiding and supporting means for sliding doors or panels



l' Ill 195 D. L MccALL 2,764,784

GUIDING AND SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SLIDING DOORS 0R PANELS F'iJJad` OC. 22, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY D. L. MCCALL GUIDING AND SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SLIDING DOORS OR PANELS Filed Oct. 22, 1953 2 Sheet's-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent O GUIDIN G AND SUPPORTING MEANS FOR` SLIDING DOORS OR PANELS This invention relates to an improved mounting for effecting slidable support of relatively movable panel or closure members, such as the doors ofcupboards, cabi-` nets, closets and the like. i

Sliding closets or cupboards .doors are now generally formed so that the same are supportedin vertical planes but in laterally offset relation, occupying positions enabling longitudinal sliding movement to be imparted to either or both of the doors in causing the same to assume overlapping positions with respect to each other in the opening of an associated doorway. The lateral offsetting of such doors or panels is particularly objectionable when the same occupy their active extended positions of doorway closure. When so `positioned the doors or panels are visible over substantially the full area thereof, so that the Ioffsetting is quite noticeable from an exterior point of View, and is objectionable with respect to the unfinished mechanical appearance caused thereby. p

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide an improved guiding and supporting means for sliding doors or panels wherein the latter, when in their relatively extended positions iof doorway closure,M are dis{ posed in longitudinally aligned'order with"their`oute`r surfaces arranged in thei-same vertijcal plane, whereby to cause the doors or panels to present flush, smooth and uninterrupted surfaces, presenting pleasing esthetic eifects.

Another `object of the invention is to provide a mounting for a pair of sliding door or other panels which,`in the opening and closing of an associated doorway, or

`other opening, are so mounted that when manual, or

posed to the rear of and in overlapping registry with the rearwardly movable sliding pa'nel, and wherein the bracket is pivotally connected in an off-center position with respect to an associated trackway, so that the door, or other panel, connected with the bracket will tend, by gravitational operation, to assume automaticallya forwardly disposed position in which it will be arranged in the same plane as a complemental slidably supported second door or panel when the latter is arranged in the same doorway opening. y

`Still a further object of the invention is to provide a pair of sliding panels of the character set forth with beveled meeting edges, the bevel of said edges being such that when unidirectional `operatingi'forcesareapplied to a first of said panels, to produce longitudinal `sliding movement thereof,the same will cause the saidiirst panel to: move automatically to the `re'ar ofyan` associated sec- 2,764,784 Patented Oct.` 2,

ICC

2 ond panel in the opening of a doorway or the like controlled by the panels. i

Another `object is to simplify and improve generally the construction of guiding and supporting apparatus employed inthe mounting and operation of slidable panels.

Further objects, advantages and various novel constructional features of my invention `will be readily understood through a consideration of the following speciiication and the accompanying drawings wherein lhas been illustrated, by way of example, a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In said drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a frame disclosing a pair of sliding door panels arranged therein and mounted in accordance with the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional View taken through the supporting frame for the door panels of the present invention, the plane of the gure being indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a similar view disclosing the door panels in registering overlapped positions providing for the Iopening of an associated doorway.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through the door construction on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig.` 2, and disclosing the inwardly moving door in its operative position of doorway closure.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view looking toward the rear of a pair of door panels mounted on the guiding and supporting means of the present invention.

Fig.` 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view looking toward the lower rear edges of the door panels of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is apvertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. S is a similar View on the line 8--8 of Fig. 6l`

Referring more particularly topthe drawings, the numeral 1 designates a doorway frame, which in this instance has been `shown as` possessing a substantially rectangular construction, embodying parallel upper and lowermembers 2 and 3, respectively, which are rigidly united at their ends by parallel vertical side members 4. As shown, these members are arranged to define a doorway 5 which is adapted to be opened and closed by means ofa pair of sliding door panels, indicated at 6 and 7, and which are mounted for sliding longitudinal movement in the doorway 5 between positions of doorway opening and closure.

In addition to its longitudinal movement the door panel 6, through the use of mounting means to be presently described, may be moved inwa-rdly for a limited distance with respect to the doorway while sliding movement is beingimparted thereto. ln accordance with the present invention, the panell 6, when in its active position `of doorway closure, will be disposed in the same vertical plane asthe door panel7 to present a desired appearance, but when it isto be moved to a position opening the doorway the panel 6 will move inwardly to a plane to the rear of that occupied by the door panel 7, thus enabling the inwardly movable door panel to `be moved l'ongitudinallyito the rear of the panel 7 without interference on the part of the latter.

To obtain this operation on the part of the door panels, use is madeof the improved mounting and guiding means therefor forming the present invention. As shown, the guiding and mounting means comprises in this instance a metallic strip 8 which is positioned stationarily on the upper-surface of the lower member 3 of the frame 1i The strip is formed with a pair of parallel upstanding ribst9 and 10 which form rol1er receiving and guiding tracks for the longitudinal guidance and support of the panels `6 and,` 7the rib 9 being 3 positioned inwardly of the doorway with respect to the rib or track 10, as shown in Fig. 4.

In this instance, the door panel 6, as disclosed in Figs. 5, 6 and 8,`has its rear face formed with stationary hinge leaves 11 to which are hinged as at 12 horizontal trunnions 13 formed on the upper end of a panel-supporting bracket or arm 14.` The latter includes in the form of the invention illustrated downwardly diverging legs, which` at their lower ends are rigidly fastened as at 15 with a pair of spaced parallel carriage bars 16. Between these bars are positioned track-engaging rollers 17 which arey supported for rotation on axles 18 carried by the bars 1 6., v f y The door panel 6 is supported in olf-center relationship to the vertical plane of the track rib 9 by the inclined arm or bracket 14. Forward, or outward, movementI ofthe panel 6 is controlled by contacting engagenient` between the marginal edges of the door panel 6 and inner vertical surfaces of marginal frame strips, indicatedvaty 2a, Satand 4a, and which form stationary parts of the door frame. The inner surface of the strip Zaat the top of the frame is spaced from an inwardly placed stationary and horizontally extending guide strip 2b in order to form a longitudinally extending groove 20 in which are received the upper edges of the door panels 6 and 7. The width of the groove 20 is such as to permit the door panel 6 -to be moved inwardly and rearwardly from the full line to the dotted line positions shown in Fig. 4. When in the dotted line position of Fig. 4 the panel 6 will occupy a vertical plane to the rear of that of the second door panel 7, so that thepanel 6 may be Amoved longitudinally without interference on the part of the panel 7, as indicated in Fig. 3.

However, when the panel 6 is released, its off-center support by the bracket 14 will cause the panel 6 to move forwardly automatically by gravity to its normal operating plane, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, in which the panel 6 is disposed in longitudinal alignment with the panel 7 and with the outer surfaces of both panels disposed in flush relationship.

The track rib 9 is formed preferably by bending the strip 8 upon itself to produce the upstanding rib construction. It willkbe noted that the upper edge of this construction is rounded, and the spacing between the carriage bars 16 is such` as to permit of rocking movement of the panel carriage on the upper surface of the trackorrib 9, whereby to obtain freely and readily the upright position of the bracket 14, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4, when longitudinal sliding movement is imparted to the panel 6 and likewise, to enable the, panel readily to oseillate about the fulcrum provided by the upper edge of the rib 9 when it moves outwardly into longitudinal and flush registry with the panel 7.

v In guiding the panel 6 in imparting in a single cornbined operation inward and longitudinal movement thereto, the upper and lower edges of the panel 6 may carry metallic shoe plates 21. v These shoe plates are mounted on the upper and lower edges of the panel 6, and are maintained in spaced relation from the frame members 2 and 3 by the fact that the panel 6 is supported vertically through the agency of the bracket 14 and its rollered carriage 16. The forward edge of the door panel 6, and the complemental edge of the panel 7, are angularly beveled as at 22, and the shoe plates 21 are each provided with a corresponding bevel 23. Engageable with the beveled surfaces 23 of the shoe plates 21 are the outer circumferential surfaces of guide rollers 24, the latter being mounted for rotation about vertical pins carried by the upper and lower edge portions of the panel 7 contiguous to the beveled edge 22 thereof. Also, beyond the rollers 24 the upper and lower edges of the panel 7 are equipped with suitable guide plates 25 to maintain sp'acedy relation between said panels when in overlapping order.

The panel 7 is supported for longitudinal sliding movement only, and does not move inwardly or laterally, as does the associated panel 6. The roller support of the panel 7 for sliding movement is accomplished by means of carriage brackets 26 mounted at longitudinally spaced intervals on the lower edges of the panel 7. The brackets 26 carry rollers 27, which engage with the rounded upper edges of the track-forming `rib 10, as shown in Fig. 5.

In the operation of the door construction here disclosed, assuming that the panels 6 and 7 are in their positions of doorway closure, with one panel in ilush longitudinal registry with the other, as shown in Fig. 2, the knob or handle 28 of the panel 6 is manually grasped and a unidirectional force applied thereto adapted to move the panel 6 toward the panel 7. This single direction of force application causes the bevel surfaces 23 of the shoe plates 21 to ride over the outer surfaces of the rollers 24, thereby resulting in combined inward and longitudinal movement on the part -of the panel 6. As the latter moves inwardly it is also `moving longitudinally on the track rib 9 in a position to the rear of the panel 7, until the panel 6 occupies its position of doorway opening, as shown in Fig. 3. Likewise, in the moving of the panel 6 to a position of doorway closure, it will be seen that the off-center mounting for the panel 6, as provided by thevarm or bracket construction 14, causes the panel 6 to move laterally forwardly or outwardly in an automatic manner through controlled engagement of the roller 24 with the shoe plate surfaces 23, enabling the panel 6 to be aligned longitudinally and vertically with the panel 7. Sliding movement of the panel 7 in moving the same to doorway opening and closing positions is accomplished by applying forces to the knob shown at 28d, the panel 7 merely moving in a single plane in a manner common to sliding panels generally. t

While I have described in detail the construction and operation of a single preferred embodiment of my present invention, it will be` obvious .that various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention, and therefore my improved supporting and guiding means for sliding panels, as herein specifically disclosed, is subject to certain alterations, variations or modications within the definition of my invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A slidable panel structure, comprising: a rectangular frame having an opening, lirst and second vertical panels slidably supported by said frame to open and close the opening therein, spaced frame-mounted longitudinally extending inner and outer parallel guides carried by said frame, oi-center supporting means flexibly united with said first panel to support the latter for sliding movement along said inner guide and to effect gravitationally lateral movement thereof relative to said frame in a direction maintaining the first panel in llush vertical registry with said second panel when in a position of opening closure, anti-friction guide-engaging means carried by said second panel and engageable with the outer of said frame lguides to support said second panel for longitudinal sliding movement only in said frame, and relatively angularly disposed deflecting means formed with said panels and operative upon an initial application of forces tending to move said rst panel longitudinally from a position closing the frame opening, and of llush adjacency with said `second panel, to a position laterally to the rear of said second panel for longitudinal movement behind the same.

2. Sliding panel construction comprising: framemounted longitudinally extending and parallel inner and outer guides, a iirst panel slidably supported for longitudinal movement along the inner of said guides, a second panel slidably supported for movement parallel with the rst panel along the outer of said guides, a bracket pivotally carried by the rear side of said rst panel, antifriction means on one end of said bracket for engagement with the inner of said guides in supporting said first panel for longitudinal movement, said bracket providing for swinging movement of said first panel transversely with respect to said second panel about an axis afforded by said inner guide, and means for limiting outward swinging movement of said first panel to cause the same to occupy a position of closure in which it is disposed in fiush relationship and vertical longitudinal alignment with said second panel. i

3. Sliding panel construction comprising: framemounted longitudinally extending and parallel inner and outer guides, a first panel slidably supported for longitudinal movement along the inner of said guides, a second panel slidably supported for movement parallel with the first panel along the outer of said guides, a bracket pivotally carried by the rear side of said first panel, antifriction means on one end of said bracket for engagement with the inner of said guides `in supporting said rst panel for longitudinal movement, said bracket providing for swinging movement of said first panel transversely with respect to said second panel about an axis afforded by said inner guide, means for limiting outward swinging movement of said rst panel to cause the same to occupy a position of closure in which it is disposed in flush relationship and vertical longitudinal alignment with said second panel, and inclined deflecting means carried by said first panel and cooperation with said second panel upon the application of forces tending to slide said first panel from a position of flush alignment with said second panel to a position to the rear of the second panel to produce inwardly directed movement on the part of said first panel and the bracket means associated therewith, whereby to cause the first panel to assume a position in which it is disposed in a vertical plane to the rear of said second panel and adapted for sliding movement longitudinally on the inner of said guides at the back of the second panel.

4. Sliding panel construction, comprising: a substantially rectangular frame having an opening formed therein, spaced longitudinally extending inner and outer parallel guides carried by the bottom of said frame, first and second vertically disposed panels slidably supported by said guides for longitudinal movement in the opening and closing of said frame opening, roller means carried by the lower edge of said second panel and engageable with the outer of said guides providing for antifriction sliding movement of said second panel in a confined plane longitudinally with respect to the frame, roller means engageable with the inner of said guides for longitudinal movement therealong, a bracket device connected with the roller means engaged with the inner of said guides, means pivotally uniting said bracket means with the rear of said first panel at a position intermediate the height thereof, said bracket means providing for gravitational forward and transverse movement of said rst panel to cause the same to contact said frame and maintain the same in flush longitudinal alignment with the second panel, and angularly disposed deflecting means carried by said panels, said defiecting means being disposed in a relative order adapted to cause said first panel to move inwardly against gravity upon the application of forces thereto for moving the same longitudinally to a position of frame opening.

5. Sliding door construction comprising a frame defining a rectangular doorway; first and second vertically disposed rigid door panels slidably mounted in said frame to open and close said doorway, said panels when in a position of doorway closure being arranged in side by side relative order in the same vertical plane; beveled means formed with said panels operative upon sliding movement of one of said panels toward a position of doorway opening to cause said rst` panel to move inwardly of the doorway from its iirst position of doorway closure in the same vertical plane with said second panel to a second position in which the first panel is disposed in an inwardly offset plane to the rear of the rst panel, whereby to enable either panel to slide freely in the opening and closing of said doorway without interference on the part of the other panel, stationary longitudinally extending guide means carried by said frame, said guide means extending parallel to and spaced inwardly and laterally from the lower longitudinal edges of said panels; and laterally tiltable supporting means mounted for longitudinal movement on the rear of each of said panels, said supporting means engaging said guide means for confined longitudinal movement with respect thereto in governing the sliding movement of said panels inthe opening and closing of said doorway, the lateral tilting of said supporting means serving to maintain said panels upon removal of inwardly directed forces therefrom gravitationally in normal outwardly advanced positions of engagement with each other and with said frame.

6. Sliding door construction comprising: a pair of rigid door panels slidably mounted in connection with an enclosure having a doorway and movable between positions of doorway opening and closure, said panels when in positions of doorway closure being disposed in the same vertical plane and when in positions of doorway opening in different planes, with one panel `arranged at the rearof the other panel; horizontally and longitudinally extending stationary guide` means carried by said enclosure to the rear of and parallel with the lower edges of said panels; rearwardly and inwardly projecting supporting devices mounted on the back of eachot said panels, said devices having lower portions thereof engaged with said guide means in providing for supported longitudinal movement of said panels in the opening and closing of said doorway and for gravitational forward and outward movement of said panels into seated positions against margins of said doorway and of a rearwardly positioned panel against a forward panel, such inward lateral movement of said panels taking place `against the weight thereof; and inter-engaging, relatively angularly disposed, defiecting i means formed with said panels, said defiecting means being operative upon an initial application of forces tending to slide one of said panels from a position of doorway closure to a position of: doorway opening to displace said panels relatively so that one of the same is moved inwardly and laterally from the vertical plane occupied by the panels when both of the latter are arranged in their positions of doorway closure, whereby to cause said panels to be arranged in overlapping order when the doorway is opened thereby.

7. Sliding closure construction of the type embodying a frame defining a generally rectangular opening, said trarne having on the bot-tom thereof an inwardly disposed, stationary and longitudinal guide member, there being first and second closure panels slidably mounted for longitudinal movement in said opening, said panels when in a position of closure occupying a comm-on vertical plane and having overlapping interengaging edges, said edges enabling the first of said panels in the opening of said doorway to move to the rear of said second panel and in parallel order therewith, the improvement comprising: movable arm means carried by said first panel normally arranged in a downwardly inclined position, means hinging the upper end of said arm means to said first panel at a position intermediate the height thereof and with the arm means disposed rearwardly of the first panel; antifriction means carried by the lower end of said arm means movable and disposed in constant engagement with said guide member, the inclination of said arm means serving to cause said first panel through gravitational response to move outwardly toward seated contact with said frame; and bracket means mounted on the rear of said second panel adjacent to the upper and lower edges thereof, said bracket means being disposed for guiding engagement with corresponding edge portions on the front face of said first panel when said panels are moved into overlapping registry.

8. Hardware for supporting sliding doors, comprising: a bracket member; hinge means formed with said member for movably attaching the upper part of the same to a vertical side surface of a rigid door panel at' a position substantially midway of the height thereof, said hinge means' providing for relative turning movement of the door panel and bracket about a substantially horizontally disposed axis extending parallel with the' bracket-attached surface of the panel, and a stationary longitudinally extending guide member withlwhich the lower part of said bracket is eng-aged and supported in providing for longitudinal movement of the door panel and transverse rocking movement thereof toward and away from said guide member.

9. Sliding door hardware as dened in claim 8, and wherein the lower part of said bracket is provided with antifriction guide member-engaging means.

l0. Mounting apparatus for sliding door panels, comprising: a strut member flexibly joined with the back of an associated panel fortran'sverse movement relative to said panel toward and away therefrom; base-engaging antifriction means carried by the lower part of said strut member; and a stationary oor-inounlted guide occupying a position in inwardly oflset parallel relation with the lower edge of the panel, Said strut member carried antifriction means being movable longitudinally along and in sustainedcontaot with said guide.

11. Sliding closure construction for a frame formed with a rectangular opening, comprising: a longitudinally extending horizontally disposed stationary guide provided on the bottom of such a frame to the rear of an opening therein; a pair of sliding closure panels having lower edges disposed for movement adjacent said guide, Said panels being normally arranged in ilush side-by-side order in a common vertical plane and having abutting, vertically disposed, overlapping edges, said edges serving when a first of said panels is moved toward an open position to cause the same tov bey initiallyinwa'rdly displaced in Said frame opening and thereafter moved to' a position in parallel registry with the second of the panels to the rear of the latter; arm means movably carried by theV rear face of the first of said panels having engagement with said guide and serving to apply forces to said first panel' to move the same toward and into a ush vertical plane of registry with said second panel; and spacing means mounted on the upper and lower edge portions of lsaid second panel for engagement with corresponding edge portions on the front face of said' first panel to space the major surf-ace area of the latter inwardly from said second panel when the first panel is disposed at the rear of said second panel and moved under the inuence of said arm means into contact with Said second panel.

12. Sliding closure construction as denedy in and by claim 1l, and wherein said guide comprises transversely spaced upstanding parallel ribs; and antifriction means carried by the lower part of the arm means of the 'rst panel and by the lower part of said second panel for movement on said ribs.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,687,870A Matson oct. 16, 192s 2,288,712 Hurd Iuly 7, 19,42 2,317,312 Swanson et al Apr. 20, 1943 2,341,344 Tuner Feb. 8, 1944 2,644,205 Karp l Jury 7, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 466,466 Great Britain Mayas, 1937 520,793 Great Britain Nov. 7, 1939 

